While CityBeat will certainly cover Portune’s
announcement once it finally comes, it’s all with the acknowledgement
that his chances of getting the Democratic nomination are slim to
none. Portune has no credible organization, his name recognition is low
outside southwest Ohio and he apparently can’t find a candidate for
lieutenant governor, which all gubernatorial candidates must do prior to
collecting and filing 1,000 signatures before a February deadline.

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He’s an elected official. He’s been an
elected official for a long time,” FitzGerald said. “I think he’s not
being entirely realistic. It’s very difficult to run a legitimate
statewide campaign.”

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern put it more forcefully in his comments to media outlets.

“Every two years, we get excited about the Cincinnati Bengals and Todd Portune talks about running for an office,” he told WVXU.

Still, Portune continues clinging on to his gubernatorial ambitions.

“To end it now would be inconsistent with the message I
have given around the state, which is to not give in the diversity,”
Portune told The Enquirer. “And while it may appear improbably today… I can’t say it’s impossible.”

In the meantime, FitzGerald will keep running a serious statewide campaign to defeat Republican Gov. John Kasich this November.